DEMOBILISATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16418, 11 January 1919, Page 9

DEMOBILISATION.

» DISSATISFIED ARMY* SERVICE MEN. (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 8. Four thousand Army Service men at Park Royal formed a deputation to their General demanding immediate doinobilisation, and an assurance that they would not bo sent to Russia. Tne General said the men would be demobilised at the earliest possible m--ment. Those having work io go to would Be demobilised in a day or two, but regarding Russia, they, must obey orders. . _ . , ~ The men were dissatisfied with the reply, and rofused duty. t Thoy marched in a body to Downing street. Staff officers mingled with the men urging them to return to the depot. Eventually an official from the Premier's residence asked the men to proceed to the Horse Guards' parade ground, where they were formed into a hollow square, and promptly obeyed' an order to stand to attention, yielding to several generals who met the men. Meanwhile the gates at the Horse Guards' ground were closed, and a strong .force of mounted police appeared, but the men wore most orderly in their behaviour. An officer said that, if tiro men would wait a little General Sir "William Robertson would come and personally iiivestigate their grievance. General Robertson motored to the scene and summoned a deputation, which had a half-hour interview with the officers, and afterwards informed the men that the interview was satisfactory. General Robertson promised to send a general to Park Royal to investigate the complaints. An officer addressing the men concluded : "I want you to form up and go to dinner." The men shouted: "What about the terms? Wo are not going until they aro known.** The deputation told the men that General Robertson had 1 given ' certain assurances as regards tlio oversea drafts, and that the interview was satisfactory. The men cheered, formed up, and marched back to camp. Six hundred men at the Wpsterham aerodrome demonstrated and'conferred with the colonel. LaW they sent a deputation to /Whitehall demanding to be sent home pending demobilisation.

WAR PRISONERS. « GERMANY TO BE COMBED. . (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N. 4. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 8. The Government has begun a thorough search for British prisoners in Germany. A Commission has been dispatched consisting of 20 parties, equipped with motor ambulances and accompanied by doctors, who are making Berlin and other leading towns their lieadquarters. The prisoners will bo centralised and afterwards entrained to France. The French Government is undertaking a similar scheme. GERMAN CRUELTY; PARIS, January 9. General Mangin, commanding the French at Mayence, heard of 300 released British prisoners some miles within Germany travelling to the Rhine, broken down and exhausted. General Mangin sent an ambulance with a white flag, and found them in a deplorable condition, lying on the roads. They liad been demobilised like dumb animals, the German authorities and civilians giving no help.